No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 437 



of blig'hts and diseases. These we must be prepared for, and be 

 ready to use preventives as well as corrective measures. The chief 

 thing is to bo watchful, careful in all the processes as pointed out, 

 from the selection of the seed to the final feeding of the crop. Be 

 posted in all particulars. 



The Value of the Crop. 



Alfalfa is a most useful plant, both for soiling and for hay, and 

 under proper management also makes an excellent pasture for all 

 kinds of live stock. There is no crop that is superior for soiling; 

 it is palatable, rich in protein, practically a balanced ration, and 

 the cuttings can be so arranged as to provide a continuous supply 

 from June 1st to Sept. loth. In using for forage, it is preferable 

 to have it slightly wilted before feeding. 



As a hay, it is one of the most generally useful and most valuable 

 — much superior, as already' pointed out, to clover or mixed grasses, 

 and may be profitably substituted for concentrated feeds, and while 

 it is possible to make a balanced ration from alfalfa and corn silage 

 alone, and also oue which is palatable, it is better to add to the 

 daily ration three or four pounds of fine feed. An even mixture 

 of corn meal and cottonseed meal, used at the rate of 3 or 4 pounds 

 per da^', to cows in full flow of milk, with the silage and alfalfa, 

 seems to utilize the nutrients much better than if only the roughage 

 is used, as ordinarily the bulk required is too great. 



The extraordinary yields that may be obtained; the great value 

 of the crop from the standpoint of supplying protein, thus making 

 it possible for the farmer to grow practically his entire supply; 

 its power of gathering nitrogen from the air, which function enables 

 the farmer to build up his soil in nitrogen, and gathering it for 

 mops which are unable to gather it from the air, make it one of 

 the most valuable crops known for the dairy or general farmer. 



SOME NEEDS OF AGRICULTURE. 



By DR. H. H. DEAN, O. A. College Canada. 



The first great need of agriculture to-day is the need of organiza- 

 tion and CO operation among farmei's. Experience proves that 

 without these the masses are helpless in the hands of the classes. 

 All trades, professions and departments of commerce have their 

 organizations whereby they co-operate for the benefits of the units 

 of the mass. Why ought not the farmer do likewise? He must, 

 if he would receive "a square deal." The co-operative stores of 

 the United Kingdom in 1906 did a business aggregating .|300, 000.000. 

 with profits of nearly .flO, 000,000. A speaker before an agricultural 

 organization in Canada said: "At present many commodities cost 

 city consumers double the price which the producer received for 

 them. By bringing the two parties into direct relationship much 

 of this waste should go to reduce the cost of living on the on§ 

 Jiand, and to increase the profits on the other." 



